The miracles of St Thomas of Hereford.

Abstract

At about 9 am on 18 September 1305 Thomas, aged 14, was crossing Summergill brook near New Radnor (now in Powys) to gather wild apples for sauce making when noticed a bundle of red clothes in water. At thought that they had been left there by washerwoman but soon realised that had found body of William De Lorimer, aged 2?/2, from Donnington (now Downton) farm, which lay the distance of an arrow's flight from stream. He took boy out of water and shouted for help. The occupants of farm came running out, moved body to a dry area, and were soon praying to Thomas Cantilupe, Bishop of Hereford who had died 22 years earlier, to revive child. They measured him (determined his height with intention of lighting a candle or taper of that length at Bishop's tomb). While they were busy with Ave Marias and Paternosters a certain Hugh de Adforton left crowd, opened boy's mouth, and, separating teeth with a stick, turned him upside down. Water poured out but did not obviously show signs of life. William was taken into farmhouse, where a fire was lit to warm him first on one side and then on other. During afternoon Hugh de Adforton examined him again. When put a finger in child's mouth was bitten and realised that recovery was occurring. There was steady improvement although he remained a strange colour for some time.1